Just as with our last days in Japan, time has flown by since we moved back to Metro Detroit. In that time, we’ve celebrated holidays and birthdays, found a new place to call home, traveled and, most importantly, reconnected with family and friends.

There was a lot to process mentally and emotionally as we transitioned back to life in the states. There have been some highs and very unexpected lows. It wasn’t my intention to stay away from this space for six months, but I was honestly at a loss for how to sum up what the repatriation process has been like and how best to share. I also wanted to figure out the ideal way to continue this blog, which has been such a great source of expression for me.

That all being said, the best word to describe the past six months has been jarring. Not jarring in one big boom, but in little waves that knock you off balance unexpectedly. New routines and little adjustments. I can’t believe how hard it is to recall the little Japanese I’d mastered but how often I still bow my head in thanks. And don’t get me started on driving again.

I had a meltdown in the grocery store the first time I went shopping and called my mother asking what aisle bottled lime juice would be in. I don’t know for how many minutes before the call I circled, my mind racing with thoughts like “Why do we need so many options?” and “Why are there so many people in here?” and “God it’s so fucking loud in here” and “This place is too damn big.” It’s funny now but it perfectly sums up this process of being dropped back into a world that was so familiar — it’s the same grocery store I used to go to weekly before the move — and yet suddenly felt unwelcoming and harsh.

Suddenly I was bombarded by all the conversations of strangers I could block out before because I couldn’t understand them. All the food looked huge to me, piled high in enormous mounds that meant whatever was on the bottom would inevitably be damaged or rot without notice. All these options were provided to reinforce a right to so many options. Much of it would go the way of a garbage dump at the end of the week in protection of that ideal.

Sound extreme? I get it. But being in another country meant looking at my home country through a magnifying glass. Why? To answer all the questions I got about the American way of life I never had to think about before. And those questions ranged from politics (won’t get into that in this space) to, yes, big box stores. There’s a reason expats joke international Costco outposts are like American embassies.

There’s another way to describe this process, and that’s mourning. I joked with a friend once that when we moved back to Michigan, we’d be turning in our “cool cards” at the airport on the way out of Japan. As we sat on the plane to return to our home state, it occurred to me we were leaving behind an identity that lent itself so perfectly to making new friends and business contacts, a title that served as a welcome mat to anyone else we met in our situation. We quickly found people to bond with about living abroad and those eager to discuss America and what it means to be American. It felt like a hand holding open a door or a footstool always beneath our feet to help us stand above the crowd. We had a topic to discuss before we opened our mouths and something that made us interesting. Now what?

“Mourning” would have sounded overly dramatic at the beginning of this process. But as the weeks began bleeding into months after we moved back, I found myself trapped on the couch in a cloud I couldn’t shake. I would go to bed at night expecting to wake up in Tokyo or that we would go back in a few weeks like we usually did. I felt so disconnected from a life that had allowed me to reinvent myself and showcase my talents with the bravado of being a stranger. Now I was back in a place of such history, of ups and downs, watermarks and memories, documented failures and triumphs. The place where I’ll always have a past. I asked Craig the other day when we needed to stop talking about Japan.

What do I want to be here? What do I want to do? Luckily work has kept me busy, as has the task of decorating a new apartment (can’t say I was mad about the additional space). I’m taking fitness classes and refocusing on my health and that’s helped me get to a better place. There are still moments when the Twilight Zone-esque effect of moving across the street from the home we left three years ago gives me a lump in my throat and makes me wonder if, somehow, we dreamt it all.

But there is a purpose in every transition and that’s what I’m trying to remember. We’ve had some family news that has helped to put this move back to Michigan into perspective. I’m not religious but I am a believer in being in the right place at the right time. For now, this feels right.

I hope you’ll rejoin me here as I share more of our adventures and introduce you to the Mitten state. There are also last trips in Japan to share and tips for visiting that beautiful place. I’ll also share more on the expat experience to shed some insight for anyone considering it. While the transition has been hard, it was still profoundly rewarding.

I want to treat our time here as I did our time in Japan, for however long it lasts.

A definite highlight of this trip back to the U.S. was meeting our newest nephew, Oliver. He is the second baby in our family to be born since Craig and I have been in Japan and we were counting down the days until we got to see the little guy in person (not to mention smooch on those cheeks).

The birth of Oliver and our niece, Laynee, before him were two of the most wonderful events of the past two years but also the toughest to miss. Seeing our siblings become parents has been exciting and emotional — we just wish we could be more a part of it. That being said, we’re amazed at the relationships we’ve been able to build with these amazing tiny humans thanks to the wonders of technology. They’ve come to know our faces and learned to recognize us by our voices. We’ve created games through the screen and they’ve christened us with nicknames. We’ve watched them try new foods and take first steps through shared videos. We’ve built a digital baby book we can look back through whenever our hearts are a bit sick for home.

As our family continues to grow, we look forward to all we’ll be able to share with them as they grow based on our time abroad. That knowledge will be among our greatest gifts to them and we hope to take them on their own adventures one day. Nothing beats those smiles when they see Auntie Pejo and Uncle Teg on the screen. While we count down the days between each meeting, we’re so thankful to be a part of each every milestone, no matter how far away we are.

Goodbyes are the worst part of any trip. Whether we do the traveling or someone comes to see us, the goodbye is that moment the bubble of the trip bursts and it’s time to get back to normal life. It’s the moment we remember exactly how far we are from those we love. To say it gets easier wouldn’t be right, but it does become a little different each time.

As someone who’s lived away from my parents since I was 18 and in many different places, distance doesn’t really scare me. The hardest part of saying goodbye and then being away is knowing there will be so many things we’ll miss. They’ve been small, like MSU football games, and big, like the birth of our niece last year. Goodbyes have become a reminder that different facets of our life are carried out on different continents. Craig and I don’t know where we would be without FaceTime or Skype, which allow us to “be there” as long as we don’t miscalculate the time difference.

But goodbyes do something else for me, too. Each one gives a greater perspective on where you are in life and what you’re doing. I’ve learned to appreciate more the time I have with friends and family as well as my time with just Craig. I’ve gained more appreciation for how proud our families are of us and how this adventure of ours has reshaped their lives in positive ways. They’ve left me with a stronger resolve to really make the most of this.

It’s not that goodbyes don’t tug on our heartstrings each time — lord knows I still need to learn how not to cry. But all these goodbyes have made our heart strings a bit longer. And I know they’ll always keep us connected to those we cherish the most.

This weekend we had a lot of fun — and a few tears — bidding a much-dreaded adieu to our friend Stefano, who left for a new post in China.

It’s not easy to make new friends as an adult. You’re out of school and in the “real world,” which at times can feel like an even bigger popularity contest than your adolescent years. Making new friends thousands of miles from home seemed even more daunting. That being said, bonding with someone over an experience as odd and wonderful as this forges a unique kind of friendship. After all, you know the whole while that, at some point, someone’s contract will run out and their next home could be cities, countries or continents away.

We’ll miss Stefano a great deal but we know we’ve got a friend for the long run and can’t wait to meet up with him in another part of the world soon.

Here are my happy sights for the week, starting with those two delectable slices of pie Stefano and I devoured at Bubby’s, before his flight. Enjoy!

A seriously kawaii display in Roppongi Hills. That’s a lot of Doraemons.

Craig and Stefano face off at the arcade.

Sushi candy!

On Saturday, a friend with stunning apartment balcony view invited us over to enjoy the Toky0 Bay Fireworks.

Man, the past week was pretty insane, but in a good way. I’ve gotten to spend time with both sides of the family, attended my cousin’s lovely wedding and caught up with some friends. My schedule is pretty packed for the remainder of my trip which has, unfortunately, led to some nights of very little sleep. No complaints, though — it’s a great problem to have to feel so loved by all these wonderful people who want to spend time with you. I couldn’t ask for more.

We’ve done quite a bit of travel planning lately as our packed summer gets closer and closer. I’ll be doing plenty of flying in the coming months but it’s worth it to share in some major milestones back home and see new places.

Enjoy my web tacks for the week, kicking things off with some info on Asia’s most popular beverage.

Thank you for reading my post yesterday about, as my sister so creatively dubbed it, my first “Japanniversary” and for the kind well wishes.

Today, however, I learned I made a grave oversight yesterday — it was National Pizza Day back in the U.S. and I didn’t participate. That’s like, missing a relative’s birthday for pizza heads like me. Sad, I know. Don’t worry, I took care of it, despite my cleanse. I mean, priorities, right?

Among my web tacks for the week are some truths about the pizza obsessed as well as one of the downsides to living abroad: taxes. I hope you had some pizza — or will soon — and that your week is off to a great start!

Craig sent these facts about dating a girl obsessed with pizza to me. I guess that means they’re true. Not ashamed. [Thought Catalog]

Wow, I don’t know how you parents do it. Yesterday was my first official day babysitting my precious, almost-two-years-old nephew and man was I exhausted. We played, we ate, we colored and we ran around the house — boy, did we run around — but it’s a divine exhaustion. I wouldn’t trade his sweet thank you’s and kisses after a fun day for anything else in the world.

My web tacks for the week include some things I’m trying to work on, inside and out. Happy Tuesday!

I’ve always known writing could be therapeutic. More reasons to try it. [The New York Times]

I couldn’t agree more with these ways living in another country changes you. [The Huffington Post]

What does the pic you choose for your social media accounts say about you? [Man Repeller]

What happens to old NYC subway cars? Not what you may think. [Gizmodo]

I’m looking forward to checking out photographer Kazuhei Kimura’s exhibition this February back in Tokyo. Take a look at his beautiful work. [TimeOut Tokyo]

I had a wonderful experience this week at a networking event that reminded me how important it is to put yourself out there and make connections — you never know who you’re going to meet.

While I’ve always known what I wanted to do career-wise, networking events of any size have always spooked me a bit. I frankly don’t always find it easy to talk about myself and I know the roots of that are the insecurities we all have (I know my post-collegiate job hunt during the recession certainly didn’t help). Thankfully, being in a foreign country where the only person I knew when I arrived sleeps a foot away from me has forced me out of my shell a bit more.

I can honestly say everyone I’ve met here — Japanese or otherwise — has been open, kind and most of all, helpful. That’s what I love about busy places like Tokyo. You meet such an interesting mix of people, many of whom have been in your shoes and are willing to give advice. Trust me, there is nothing more flattering than being asked for advice or help, even for silly stuff. I glowed for days after giving a traveler directions for the first time here. I mean, she wanted to go to Zara. It was destiny.

But it really doesn’t matter where you live. Look for events in your community for professionals in your field — current or desired — or for people with a shared hobby. When you move somewhere new, there will be plenty of days when your couch and TV seem like your best friends. But Netflix can’t hire you. You know what I mean.

I can’t wait to see how the new connections I made this week impact my time here in Tokyo. Stay tuned!